Video: Giant Atmospheric River Wallops the West Coast With Rain

Data from NASA’s Aqua satellite shows an enormous atmospheric river bringing rain and snow to California in February in this visualization. The colors show the amount of water vapor in the air as recorded by the infrared sounder on board the satellite that detects the infrared brightness coming up from Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

The light blue streak flowing toward California in the video is a river of moisture-rich air extending up from the tropics. The phenomenon will bring much-needed rain to California, which is suffering from its worst drought in years.